Door-check.



J. H. PEARSON.

DOOR CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED MAYzz, 1913.

,P l 3 lll. 26% Patented Mar. 9, 1915 ."uRR PETEHS C0 Pimm llrm/ vWAL/Hmmm D c OFFllFF.

JAMES II. IPEARSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO-GEORGE A. HAINES, OF BLOMFIELD, INDIANA, AND ONE-THIRD TO OSGEOLACALVERT, 0F

SHELBURN, INDIANA..

DOOR-CHECK.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JAMES H. PnARsoN, citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Checks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in door checks andthe object of my invention is to provide a device which will not onlyinsure the closing of any door to which it may be applied but which willcheck and control such closing, causing the door to close smoothly. andgently and therefore avoiding the likelihood of breaking any panes ofglass which may be set in the door.

A. further object of my invention is to construct a check of the abovedescribed nature which will also act to prevent the blowing open of thedoor when closed.

A further object of my invention is'to provide a door check which may beapplied to the upper portion of the door and door casing and which, whenin place, will be out of the way, the door check being mounted in such amanner that it may be readily removed from both the door and casingwithout necessitating the removal of any screws, bolts or otherfastening devices and further so mounted that it may be detached fromeither the door casing or door and left attached to the door or doorcasing, the check thereby being rendered inoperative without thenecessity of completely removing it from the door and casing.

A. still further object of my invention is to provide a door check whichmay be applied with equal effectiveness to doors which open to the rightor to the left and also which may be reversed end for end.

Another object of my present invention is to provide means whereby thedoor check may be utilized to partially close the door and to then holdthe door in its partially closed position, this locking means beingadjustable whereby the door may be closed to any desired, predeterminedextent.

lWith these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mair. 9, 1915..

serial no. veaaie.

and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached toand forni a part of this application.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upperportion of a. conventional door and door casing showing my improved doorcheck applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view takenthrough the door and its casing, showing thedoor check in top plan view,the d oor being shown in closed position in full lines and in openposition in dot and dash lines; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinalsectional view taken through the body of my improved door check; Fig. 4is a perspective view of the head which closes the outer end of theinner body portion of the door check and to which one end of each of thesprings inclosed in the door check is attached; Fig. 5 is a similar viewof the head closing the outer end of the outer body member, showing themanner in which the springs are attached to said head and also showingthe valve controlling the passage of air into and out of the bodymember; Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional View through that endof the body member closed by the head shown in Fig. 5, showing stillfurther details of valve construction; Fig. 7 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view upon an enlarged scale, showing theemployment of a split annular packing ring to prevent leakage of airfrom the body between the inner and outer members thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred toin the following descriptionand indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same referencecharacters.

My invention, in its preferred form, primarily includes tubular outerand inner telescoping members 10 and 11 which together form the bodyportion of the door check and for the sake of clearness I haveillustrated my improved door check, iii Fig. 1, as applied to a door 12and door casing 13 of conventional form, one end of the door check beingsecured to the upper inner corner of the door by a bracket 14:, whilethe opposite end is secured to the opposite upper corner of the doorcasing by a bracket 15. The specic construction of the brackets and themanner of mounting the door check thereon will be described in detail ina later portion of the specification.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive of the drawing forthe specific construction of the door check proper, it will be seen thatthe outer body member 10 consists of a tube of suitable metal,preferably brass, open at one end and closed at itsother end'byaheadindicated as a whole by the numeral 16. rlhis head includes acup-shaped cap 0f metal V17 equal in diameter to the diameter of thebody member 10 and a cylindrical member 18 of wood or other suitablematerial one end of which is wedged in the cap and the other end ofwhich is adapted, when the head is in place, to extend within the bodymember 10. A bore 19 is formed transversely through the head adjacentits outer end and a smaller transverse bore 20 is formed through the capand `into the member 18 of the head to communicate with a longitudinallyextending bore 21'formed in the member 18 and opening through the innerend of the same, the bore 19 serving as a means for attaching the member10 to the bracket 14, as will be later explained, while thecommunicating bores 20 and 21 form the passage through which the airenters and escapes from the body member. A hook 22 has a threaded shank2`3'passed through a substantially rectangular shape strip 24 of leatheror other suitable material and into the inner end of the member 18, thebore 21 and shank 23 rof the hook being diametrically disposed withrespect to each other. rlhe leather strip 24 is thereby fastened withone end over the inner end of the bore or passage 21 and this end isfree to move back and forth from the passage to permit the entrance ofair into the body member and to check the escape of air therefrom. rTheends of this strip 24 of leather, are rounded as shown at 25 to engagesnugly against the inner face of the body member 10 in such a mannerthat the strip is held by this engagement and by the shank of the hookagainst vall swinging movement about the hook shank. The strip isprovided with a relatively small perforation or opening 26 in alinementwith the passage 21 through which the air contained in the body membermay be gradually forced upon the contraction of said member. The hook 22is so turned as to position its bill substantially in alinement with thepassage 21 and the hook therefore serves as a cheek for limiting theinward movement of the free end of the valve formed by the strip 24 whenair is being` drawn in through the passage 20-21 The head is secured inplace in the end ofthe outer bodymember 10 by a screw or other fasteningdevice 27 passed through the body member 10 and into the inner portionof the member 1S which forms in effect the body of the valve, inasmuchas the air passage is formed therethrough and the valve carried thereby.

The inner body member 11 consists of a cylindrical tube somewhat less inexterior diameter than the interior diameter of the body member 10 andtelescopically mounted therein. The outer end of this inner body member10 is closed by a head indicated as a whole by the numeral 2S. This headincludes a cap of metal 29 corresponding to the cap 17 and equal indiameter to the diameter of the inner body member and a cylindricalmember 30 wedged at one end in the cap and extending at its opposite endinto the body member 11 in which it is secured by a screw 31. This headis provided with a transversely extending bore parallel to the bore ofthe head 16 and providing means for attaching the outer end of the innerbody member to the bracket 15.

A hook 33 has its shank threaded into the inner end of the member 30 inthe same manner in which the hook 22 is threaded into the member 18, thebight portions of these hooks being disposed centrally within the endsof their respective body members. helical spring 34 is provided at itsends with eyes 35 which engage the hooks 22 and 33 and a second helicalspring 3G surrounds the first and is provided at its ends with eyes 37which also engage said hooks. As will be readily understood the hook 33may be swung to bring its bill out of alinement with the member 30 andthus permit the ready attachment of the spring eyes thereto, after whichthe hook may be swung back to the position shown in F ig. 4.

In assembling the door check, the springs are first attached to the hook22, which may be easily done as they are then under no strain. The headof the outer body member is then applied to said member and the innerbody member positioned within the outer body member, the springs beingpassed through and drawn out through the aid of a hook or other suitableinstrument and engaged over the hook of the inner body head which isthen positioned in the end of its body member and fastened in place. Inorder to insure a relatively easy movement of the inner body memberwithin the outer body member it is necessary that the two members do notlit too closely together. At the same time it is essential that thechamber formed by the body members and included between the headsthereof be air tight, save for the passage 21 in order to provide an aircushion which will serve as a check upon the action of the springs 34and 36. To accomplish this provide the inner body portion 11 adjacentits inner end with a collar 38 which fits loosely within the outer bodyportion and at its eXtreme inner end with a second collar 39 which litsstill more loosely within the outer body member. Between these collarsand surrounding the inner body member l place an annular packing ring 40of leather, rubber or other suitable material of such thickness as toclosely lill the space between the inner and outer body members. rlfhatend of this packing ring adjacent the collar 39 is slittedcircumferentially as shown at 41 and, it will be apparent that when thebody members have been extended and the chamber formed by said membersfilled with air, upon contraction of said members air passing the collar39 will enter the groove or channel formed by slitting the inner end ofthe packing ring 40 and so force or spread the inner edge of the ringapart to bring it still more closely into engagement with both the innerand outer body members and form an absolutely air tight sliding joint.rlhe collars 38 and 39 being secured to the inner body member 11 preventall longitudinal movement of the packing ring 40 upon said body member.Loosely surrounding inner body member 11 eXteriorly of the outer bodymember 10, is a collar 42 which may be tightened in adjusted positionupon the inner body member by a set screw 43. This collar and set screwform an adjustable lock for limiting the action of the door check aswill be later explained.

As previously described the door check is secured to the door and doorcasing by brackets 14 and 15, respectively. The bracket 14 includes ail-shape body member, the ends of which terminate in angularly disposedfeet 44 perforated to receive screws 45 by which the bracket may beattached to the door. The bracket above described is always attached tothe door with one of the feet at the upper inner corner of the door asshown and the peculiar V-shape construction of the bracket thereforeserves to insure a uniform positioning of the bracket. As shown, thebody portion of the bracket extends at right angles to the plane of thedoor and is provided with an upwardly directed, integrally formed pintlepin 46 proportioned to fit loosely in the bore 19 or the bore 32 of thedoor check as the case may be.

The bracket 15 includes a U-shape body member having a foot 47perforated to receive screws 48 by which it may be attached to the doorcasing in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing and thefree end of this body member terminates in an integrally formed pintlepin 49 adapted to pass through the bore at the free end of the doorcheck. The body portions of both of these brackets are provided withencircling ianges 50 to support the door check when the latter ismounted upon the pintle pins. Both the bores 19 and 32 are of the samediameter and the pintle pins 46 and 49 will t either bore. For thisreason the door check may be mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 1 orreversed end for end or inverted without in the slightest way affectingits operation.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing,the operation of the door check will be readily understood and but aslight description of the same is therefore necessary. When mounted uponthe door as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be apparentthat any opening of the door tending to move the same to the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, will act to extend the door check andtherefore against the action of the springs 34 and 36 which are alreadyunder sufiicient tension to normally hold the door against being blownopen. Assuming that the door has been opened and then released, it willbe clear that the springs34 and 36 will tend to draw the body members 10and 11 together and close the door. This closing, if accomplished merelyby the action of the springs, would be abrupt and would cause the doorto slam and it is for this reason that the body member is constructed toprovide an air chamber. While the door was being opened a partial vacuumwas formed in the body portion, causing an inrush of air through thepassage 20-21 forcing the valve 24 inwardly until the air filled thechamber within the body member. As soon however, as the body memberstarts to contract under the action of the springs 34 and 36 the air inthe chamber is compressed. forcing the valve 24 to its seat. Under theseconditions, because of the split packing ring 41, the only escape forthe air imprisoned in the chamber is through the small perforation 26 ofthe valve. For this reason the escape of the air from the chamber willbe very slow and the action of the springs cushioned in such a manner asto insure a smooth and gentle closing of the door under the influence ofthe door check. lt will be noted that the air chamber and itscontrolling valve do not in any way affect the opening of the door asthe inward movement of the valve completely opens the passage 20-21which is large enough to permit the air to rush readily into the airchamber. 1f the door is to be held open at any predetermined point itmay be readily accomplished by this door check by first opening the doorto the extent desired and while the door is manually held in thisposition,

moving the collar 4:2to bear against the adjacent end of the outer bodymember 10 and then securing the collar in place by the set screw 43. 1twill be apparent that under these conditions the collar will preventfurther contraction of the body member and that while the door may bemore widely opened to permit persons to pass through it will close onlyto the extent desired and arranged for by the adjustment of the collar.

The above described door check may be used either upon the inside oroutside of the door and upon doors that open either to the right or tothe left. Either end may be attached to the door carried bracket and theother end to the casing of the door and the door cheek may at any timebe inverted, if desired. Furthermore, either end of the door check maybe freed from its pintle pin and the door check left hanging upon thepintle pin of the other bracket when the check is not required. Y Also,as will be apparent, the door check may be removed from its bracketswithout necessitating the removal of any screws, bolts or otherfastening devices.

Although I have lillustrated my invention, in all its 'details ofconstruction, it will of course be understood that I do not wish tolimit myself to the specific details illustratedin the drawing ordescribed in the specification as various minor changes, within thescope of the appended claims, may be made at any time, without in theslightest degree Ydeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A door check including tubular body members telescopically mountedone within the other, a head closing the outer end of one body memberand provided with a valve passage, a ia'p valve mounted on the inner endof the head and movable to open and close said passage, a head closingthe outer end of the other body member, and springs connecting saidheads.

2. A door check including tubular body members telescopically mountedone within the other, a head closing the outer end of one of the bodymembers, a head closing the outer end of the other body member andproviding with the first head and body members a variable air chamber,said latter head being provided with an air passage, a valve carried bythe head and movable to open and close said passage, means for limitingthe inward movement of said valve, and a spring extending through theair chamber and connected at its ends to the heads.

3. Adoorcheck including tubular .body

members telescopically mounted one within the other, a head closing theouter end of one of the body members, a head closing the outer end ofthe other body member and coaeting with the first head and body membersto provide a variable air chamber, springs extending through the chamberand connected at their ends to the heads to normally hold the bodymembers in contracted position, one of said heads being provided i withan air passage communicating with the chamber, and a valve carried bysaid head and movable to open and close said passage, said valve beingperforated to permit slight escape of air from the chamber when thevalve is closed.

4. A door check including tubular body members telescopically mountedone within the other, heads closing the outer ends of said body membersand provided with transverse bores, springs connecting said heads, avalve mounted in one of the heads and controlling the passage of airinto and out of an air chamber formed by the body members and heads, andbrackets adapted for attachment to a door and door casing and providedwith pintle pins adapted to engage through the bores of the heads.

5. A door check including tubular body members telescopically mountedone within the other, heads closing the outer ends ol said body membersand provided with transverse bores, springs connecting said heads, avalve mounted in one of the heads and controlling the passage of airinto and out of an air chamber formed by the body members and heads,brackets adapted for attachment to a door and door casing and providedwith pintle pins adapted to engage through the bores of the heads, acollar adjustably mounted upon the outer end of the inner body member,and means for clamping the collar in adjusted position upon said bodymember to limit the telescopic movement 01"' the body members.

6. A door check including tubular body members telescopically mountedone within the other, heads closing the outer ends of the body members,springs connecting said heads, an air valve carried by one of the heads,an annular packing ring secured upon the inner end of the inner bodymember, and means for attaching the outer ends of the body members to adoor and door casing.

7. A door check including tubular body members telescopically mountedone within the other, heads closing the outer ends of the body membersand providing therewith a variable air chamber, a valve carried by oneof the heads and governing the passage of air into and out of saidchamber, springs connecting the heads to normally hold the Vbody memberstogether, an annular packing a door and door easing.

8. A door check including telesooplng body members closed at their outerends thereby (1o-acting to provide a Variable air chamber, means tendingto hold the mem- 10 bers in contracted position, means controlling thepassage of air into and out of the air chamber, and adjustable meanslimiting the telescopic movement of the body members.

In testimony whereof l aliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES H. PEARSON. [n s] Witnesses:

CosWELL H. JENNINGS, 'JOHN F. FREELAND.

@opina el this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents? Washington, D. G.

